Letters to
the editor • • •
which hold the copyrighted video
display of the game.
How then can a U.S. Marshall
seize a "copy" game from anyone?
The game cabinet, T V mon itor, coin
door , cashbox, line cord, etc . are not
copyrighted items. In many cases the
circuit boards aren't copyrighted
either, just the programmed chips.
Technically, manufacturers can
seek to have the "copy" games'
program chips seized, erase their
program and returned to their
owners.
It is the manufacturers themselves
who have created the demand for
"copy" games. First, manufacturers
have not put money into researc h
and development of new games, but
rather have licensed them from
foreign companies, making them
Wants vid eo reviews
.CoiN
I really enjoy Play Meter-it's great. I
particularly enjoy the machine
reviews ... but I'd like to see a lot more
reviews on the video games. There
are so many new ones coming out all
the time ; a person doesn't know
what to purchase ... so your reviews
would be most helpful. Keep up the
good work!
M'ECHANISMS
INC.
817 Industrial Drive,
Elmhurst, Ill. 60126- 1184
Manufacturing Coin Mechs , Domestic And Fo reig n, fo r
the Coin Operated Amusement Mach ine Indust ry
Fra nk Leslie
W h istle Stop A musem e nts
Fair Haven, New Je rsey
[Ed.: Euen as we speak, a new columnist
for Play Meter is sizing up new uideo
games - in Leslie's own stale of New
Jersey. Watch the November 1 issue for
a new "Viewpoint on Video" columns.]
available to almost anyone who can
write; second , by flooding the
market with a glut of new equipment
that is produced at a rate faster than
c a n b e absorbe d , handled, or
afforded ; and, third, by claimed
"Research and Development" costs
which have pushed up the price of
the major manufacturers equipment
to a point where even big operators
are looking to cut costs.
Electronics is a very big industry
worldwide, we all know. Many other
manufacturers will appear on the
scene to fill the industry need for
quality equipment at reasonable
cost, if our present manufacturers
don't stop playing big brother.
Games are purchased from
manufacturers and, are owned
outright. What manufacturer can
•
•
Face Pl a tes
Mi dget Ch a nn e ls
C usto m e r Se rvice
(312) 279-9150
•
•
•
Co mpl ete Door Systems
C oi n Boxes
•
Anti-Flip Kits
•
Ray Ni c ho lso n
Anti-String Kits
String Cutters
Ron Rollins
Frank Schubert
Co pyri ght problems
After being on the service end of this
industry for the past six years
(whatever that means) I do not
advocate the sale or purchase of any
'copy' games which violate the law.
However , I see big problems
ahead if there aren't changes made
by the major manufacturers. I speak
of the copyright cases now in the
courts. With these cases being heard
by judges with no technical
background in our industry , deciding
on our future.
A copyright is issued to a
manufacturer for an original
product, in this case a video game.
The actual program for the visual
display of this game is contained
inside various electronic chips on the
main printed circuit board .
Therefore the copyrighted item,
specifically , is the electronic
components (ROMs, PROMs, etc.)
PLAY METER, October 15, 1981
Audio Visual Amuseme·nts
Offering the finest new
and used equipment.
REPRESENTING LEADING FACTORIES
• SALES, PARTS, SERVICE •
ARCADE PLANNING SPECIALISTS
Over 50 beautifully reconditioned
solid state pinballs available
YOU'VE TRIED THE REST, NOW TRY THE BEST
WE'RE EAGER TO SERVE
1809 Olive Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63103
(314)421-5100
For further information, call Pete Entringer (collect)
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